Bucks are still chasing Does

Tailhunter

Tailhunter

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As of January 12 the bucks are still running does. I have multiple chases on camera and one that includes 3 large bucks in single file hounding a doe.
#1 still trying to kill #2.

Second rut. Or first still going on.

Have yet to see them stop.
 
Checked my cameras in SC last weekend and had tons of does....but not a single buck. It was almost opposite back in November.
The bucks may have been harvested.
 
Here I was planning a 600 mile motor-sickle trip from Wake county to the Outer Banks when we get a couple days of pleasant weather. @Tailhunter What do you think your observations in your neck of the woods would mean a few hundred miles east of you?
 
Our rut always seems extended. I was finding fresh scrapes on the last weekend of the season.
 
Tailhunter said:
Keep your eyes peeled.
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Truth be known, I see deer on the side of the road year round, but not being chased out into the road like maniacs during the rut.
 
Tailhunter said:
As of January 12 the bucks are still running does. I have multiple chases on camera and one that includes 3 large bucks in single file hounding a doe.
#1 still trying to kill #2.

Second rut. Or first still going on.

Have yet to see them stop.
Click to expand...
Second rut.
 
fieldgrade said:
Here I was planning a 600 mile motor-sickle trip from Wake county to the Outer Banks when we get a couple days of pleasant weather. @Tailhunter What do you think your observations in your neck of the woods would mean a few hundred miles east of you?
Click to expand...

You missed your chance today, it was spectacular.
 
GoWolfpack said:
You missed your chance today, it was spectacular.
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It was here, too. But it rained in the morning and then again late in the afternoon. Had the bike apart in the garage, buttoned it up, then baby sat.
The life of a grandpa can be hard.
FDFAF2EC-242C-4B51-A8C3-C176A3A53442.jpeg
 
The rut continues until all does are bred. Any doe in heat kicks it off again. Any doe not bred goes back into heat.
 
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Tailhunter said:
In that case there should be a never ending rut.
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Exactly. And that is the reason deer birth control does not work. Had a guy come by the house for some leather that worked with Cornell University, IIRC, on their deer birth control program. He was on the Sportsmans side and new it was dumb. What they wanted to do was stop the rut. What they did was push the rut back and extend it. As soon as the birth control wore off, the doe went into estrus. It made the rut almost year round. Ran the bucks ragged. And screwed up the birthing cycle so fawns were dropping all year.

Does are bred. Period. They may not go to term or the fawn may not survive. But they are either too young or they get bred eventually. The numbers I'm finding are 98% with a chance that longer days might stop estrus cycles on that 2%. But I'm betting that in the presence of any bucks a doe will not go un bred.





The estrous cycle in deer varies from 17 - 22 days, depending on the species, and this cyclical breeding activity may continue for as long as six months in animals which do not become pregnant (Gordon). The seasonal changes in fertility are controlled by the secretion of LHRH (luteinizing hormone releasing hormone) from the hypothalamus, which is influenced by melatonin from the pineal gland. LHRH influences the secretion of LH and FSH from the anterior pituitary (Lincoln).

Deer generally cycle only a few times, until they are bred and become pregnant, when the increased progesterone again causes negative feedback of GnRH by estrogen. Deer can, however, continue cycling through March, if they fail to be bred (Webster).
 
chiefjason said:
Deer can, however, continue cycling through March, if they fail to be bred (Webster)
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Interesting, I always assumed deer cycled similar to dogs. I imagine late season fawns have a low probability rate of survival. 7 month gestation period would put them being born in August. Not sure if that's long enough before the cold starts coming in October/ November.
 
@Jeppo is not in Estrus! How rude...

Clearly, them bucks are racist. They jus' can't believe a man would live in a place like that, so they are certain there are does somewhere nearby!
 
Camera didn’t catch the chaser
 
I've noticed they aren't running from my dogs lately. Had to chase one off the other morning facing down my pups through the fence. I walked up to within 15 yards before they decided to leave. They're usually not nearly so bold.
 
Squanchy said:
Interesting, I always assumed deer cycled similar to dogs. I imagine late season fawns have a low probability rate of survival. 7 month gestation period would put them being born in August. Not sure if that's long enough before the cold starts coming in October/ November.
Click to expand...

One of the problems with the birth control. Late fawns starving/freezing to death makes for a bad look when you are trying to "help".
 
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